A.-4

48

Imports. Table 111. shows the imports into the Cook Islands from New Zealand and from Tahiti, and amount in all to the sum of £26,861. Of these sums, the amount of £5,096 is deducted from the above, showing certain goods allowed free of duty to be shipped to the Penrhyn and other external lands, as well as orange-cases and other articles allowed free of duties. The imports from New Zealand and from Tahiti are given completely in Table IHa. of each year's detail in 1892,1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897. The following are as summarised ; —■ Imports Imports m , , from New Zealand, from Tahiti. * £ £ £ 1892 10,998 5,251 16,249 1893 ... ... ... ... 10,200 9,084 19,284 1894 ... ... ... ... 13,152 9,283 22,435 1895 ... ... ... ... 16,861 6,408 23,269 1896 ... ... ... ... 17,157 5,911 23,068 1897 ... ... ... ... 22,455 4,406 26,861 90,823 40,343 131,166 Free from duty to external islands, &c, during the seven years ... 15,766 £115,400 The Federal Revenue shall be given in Table IV. of the detailed accounts for the year from the Ist July, 1896, to the 30th June, 1897. The annual totals shall be summarised :— £ s. d. 1896-97 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,230 2 9 1895-96 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,428 17 8 1894-95 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,287 1 4 1893-94 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,246 7 1 1892-93 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 825 9 4 £6,017 18 2 The expenditure in opposition to the revenue above used will be as follows for the year 1896 to the 30th June, 1897 :— £ s. d. 1,654 0 3 Adding to 1895-96 ... ... ... ... ... 1,441 0 8 1894-95 ... . . ... ... ... 1,376 8 9 1893-94 ... ... ... ... ... 860 17 4 1892-93 ... ... ... ... ... 933 19 8 Total ... ... ... ... £6,266 6 8 There is not yet any arrival of banking facilities, and the Federal Government have given to all importers for credit of two months on paying British currency to provide for sums to be paid accordingly to the Customs duties thereon. I have, &c, Fbedeeick J. Moss, To His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.

Table I.—Report of Shipping at the Port of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) for the Year ending 31st December, 1897, with Comparative Statements for 1894, 1895, 1896.

Inwards. Outwards. Sailing. Steam. Men-of-war. Total. Sailing. Steam. Men-of-war. Total. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. I Tons. [.M.S. "Goldfinch" [.M.S. "Torch" .. Jritish 'reach lative: Cook Islands 23 1 34 1,660 55 1,094 28 29,238 1 1 805 805 1 1 51 1 34 805 805 30,898 55 1,094 24 1 35 1,764 55 1,731 28 29,238 1 1 805 805 1 1 52 1 35 805 805 31,002 55 1,731 Totals 1897 58 2,809 4,607 4,524 3,510 28 29,238 30,538 17,416 14,628 2 1,765 1,610 88 33,812 36,755 21,940 20,299 60 3,550 4,941 4,410 3,432 28 29,238 30,538 17,416 14,628 2 1,765 90 34,553 „ 1896 , 1895 , 1894 60 65 57 46 27 23 2 108 92 82 63 64 56 46 27 23 2 1,610 111 91 81 37,089 21,826 20,221 2 21161 2 2,'161